Traders to stand in council elections

PUBLISHED: 10:59 08 March 2007 | UPDATED: 12:18 04 May 2010

Mrs Griffin-Singh

MEMBERS of the Ely Traders Association, who campaigned against parking charges in the city, are to stand for election after customers suggested they become councillors. Group chairman Elaine Griffin-Singh hopes to represent Ely North on the district cou

MEMBERS of the Ely Traders' Association, who campaigned against parking charges in the city, are to stand for election after customers suggested they become councillors.

Group chairman Elaine Griffin-Singh hopes to represent Ely North on the district council, and ETA member William Burton also plans to stand for Ely City Council.

District council elections take place on Thursday, May 3.

Mrs Griffin-Singh, who runs Griffin Antiques, said: "While the decision was being made on parking, people were coming into my shop and saying 'why don't you run for council?' and so I've decided to try."

She said each member would stand as an independent candidate.

"I felt through the whole process with the parking decision that there were two large groups on either side with little room for the views of the community in between," she said.

Mrs Griffin-Singh, pictured, said there will be no unifying policy between ETA candidates.

"What's good for Burwell might not necessarily be the best thing for Ely," she said.

A spokesman from the district council said nearly everybody in the community was eligible to become a councillor.

"We would welcome anyone who feels they can contribute to the continuing work to make East Cambridgeshire an even better place for people to live, work and visit to consider becoming a councillor," he said.